Message Processing

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for scoring the use of financial market messages. Uses of messages that are efficient and/or improve market liquidity receive positive scores. Traders are charge fees or receive rewards that are dependent upon message quality scores.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention relate to the processing of financialmarket messages. More specifically, aspects of the present inventionprovide systems and methods for determining characteristics relating tothe use of messages.

BACKGROUND

Current financial instrument trading systems allow traders to transmitmessages to submit new orders, cancel existing orders and modifyexisting orders. Typically trade engines process each individual messageand create corresponding market data messages. Market data messages aretransmitted to traders and other entities. Existing systems providetraders and other users with several options regarding the use ofmessages. For example, if a trader wishes to change the price of anexisting order for a financial instrument, the user can submit a modifyorder message or submit a cancel order message and a new order message.Choices made by traders impact the number of messages required toimplement trading strategies.

Message traffic can strain computer systems and networks that are usedto transmit such messages. The processing of messages and associatedoverhead consumes bandwidth and processing time. Large numbers ofmessages also have corresponding large memory and storage requirements.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved systems and methodsfor monitoring messages and providing incentives for the efficient oroptimized use of messages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention overcome at least some of the problems andlimitations of the prior art by providing systems and methods forevaluating or scoring financial market messages. Messages that areefficient and/or improve liquidity are scored accordingly. An exchangeor other trading entity may charge a fee or provide a reward that isdependent on the message score.

In various embodiments, aspects of the present invention can bepartially or wholly implemented on a computer-readable medium, forexample, by storing computer-executable instructions or modules, or byutilizing computer-readable data structures.

Of course, the methods and systems disclosed herein may also includeother additional elements, steps, computer-executable instructions, orcomputer-readable data structures.

The details of these and other embodiments of the present invention areset forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Otherfeatures and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may take physical form in certain parts and steps,embodiments of which will be described in detail in the followingdescription and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form apart hereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a computer network system that may be used to implementaspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system for processing financial market messages inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for processing financial market messages inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention are preferably implemented withcomputer devices and computer networks that allow users to exchangetrading information. An exemplary trading network environment forimplementing trading systems and methods is shown in FIG. 1. An exchangecomputer system 100 receives orders and transmits market data related toorders and trades to users. Exchange computer system 100 may beimplemented with one or more mainframe, desktop or other computers. Auser database 102 includes information identifying traders and otherusers of exchange computer system 100. Data may include user names andpasswords. An account data module 104 may process account informationthat may be used during trades. A match engine module 106 is included tomatch bid and offer prices. Match engine module 106 may be implementedwith software that executes one or more algorithms for matching bids andoffers. A trade database 108 may be included to store informationidentifying trades and descriptions of trades. In particular, a tradedatabase may store information identifying the time that a trade tookplace and the contract price. An order book module 110 may be includedto compute or otherwise determine current bid and offer prices. A marketdata module 112 may be included to collect market data and prepare thedata for transmission to users. A risk management module 134 may beincluded to compute and determine a user's risk utilization in relationto the user's defined risk thresholds. An order processing module 136may be included to decompose delta based and bulk order types forprocessing by order book module 110 and match engine module 106.)

The trading network environment shown in FIG. 1 includes computerdevices 114, 116, 118, 120 and 122. Each computer device includes acentral processor that controls the overall operation of the computerand a system bus that connects the central processor to one or moreconventional components, such as a network card or modem. Each computerdevice may also include a variety of interface units and drives forreading and writing data or files. Depending on the type of computerdevice, a user can interact with the computer with a keyboard, pointingdevice, microphone, pen device or other input device.

Computer device 114 is shown directly connected to exchange computersystem 100. Exchange computer system 100 and computer device 114 may beconnected via a T1 line, a common local area network (LAN) or othermechanism for connecting computer devices. Computer device 114 is shownconnected to a radio 132. The user of radio 132 may be a trader orexchange employee. The radio user may transmit orders or otherinformation to a user of computer device 114. The user of computerdevice 114 may then transmit the trade or other information to exchangecomputer system 100.

Computer devices 116 and 118 are coupled to a LAN 124. LAN 124 may haveone or more of the well-known LAN topologies and may use a variety ofdifferent protocols, such as Ethernet. Computers 116 and 118 maycommunicate with each other and other computers and devices connected toLAN 124. Computers and other devices may be connected to LAN 124 viatwisted pair wires, coaxial cable, fiber optics or other media.Alternatively, a wireless personal digital assistant device (PDA) 122may communicate with LAN 124 or the Internet 126 via radio waves. PDA122 may also communicate with exchange computer system 100 via aconventional wireless hub 128. As used herein, a PDA includes mobiletelephones and other wireless devices that communicate with a networkvia radio waves.

FIG. 1 also shows LAN 124 connected to the Internet 126. LAN 124 mayinclude a router to connect LAN 124 to the Internet 126. Computer device120 is shown connected directly to the Internet 126. The connection maybe via a modem, DSL line, satellite dish or any other device forconnecting a computer device to the Internet.

One or more market makers 130 may maintain a market by providingconstant bid and offer prices for a derivative or security to exchangecomputer system 100. Exchange computer system 100 may also exchangeinformation with other trade engines, such as trade engine 138. Oneskilled in the art will appreciate that numerous additional computersand systems may be coupled to exchange computer system 100. Suchcomputers and systems may include clearing, regulatory and fee systems.

The operations of computer devices and systems shown in FIG. 1 may becontrolled by computer-executable instructions stored oncomputer-readable medium. For example, computer device 116 may includecomputer-executable instructions for receiving order information from auser and transmitting that order information to exchange computer system100. In another example, computer device 118 may includecomputer-executable instructions for receiving market data from exchangecomputer system 100 and displaying that information to a user.

Of course, numerous additional servers, computers, handheld devices,personal digital assistants, telephones and other devices may also beconnected to exchange computer system 100. Moreover, one skilled in theart will appreciate that the topology shown in FIG. 1 is merely anexample and that the components shown in FIG. 1 may be connected bynumerous alternative topologies.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system for processing financial market messages inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. A trader 202 exchangesmessages 204 and 206 with a trading engine 208. Trader 202 may be anindividual, firm or other entity that trades financial instruments.Message 204 may be a buy order message, cancel order message, modifyorder message, mass quote message or any other type of message typicallysent from a trader to a trading engine. Trading engine 208 may reside atan exchange and may perform some or all of the functions performed byexchange computer system 100 (shown in FIG. 1). Trading engine 208 mayreceive messages from traders, process those messages and transmitcorresponding return messages. For example, trading engine 208 mayreceive a buy order message, process the message and transmit anacknowledgement message.

Trading engine 208 may include a message quality module 210. Messagequality module 210 may be implemented with software and/or hardware toscore or evaluate messages received from traders and to generate amessage quality score. Message quality scores may be used to quantifyhow efficiently traders are using message types and/or the impact that amessage has on market liquidity. In one embodiment message values areassigned according to message type. For example, a new order message mayhave a message value of 0, a cancel order may have a message value of 1and a modify order message may have a message value of 0.3. The use of amodify order message is often more efficient than the use of thecombination of a cancel order message and a new order message.Accordingly, the message value of a modify order message may be lessthan the average of a cancel order message and a new order message. Invarious alternative embodiments message quality scores are also afunction of message size. For example, a large order may add toliquidity and not increase a message quality score.

Various other algorithms and weighting methods may be used to generatemessage quality scores. Message quality scores may be functions offactors such as changes in price levels, size, time in the market,market and combinations. Weights may also be assigned to each factor andone or more weights may be a function of other factors. Message qualityscores may be a weighted sum of factors or other combination of weightedor unweighted factors.

Trading engine 208 may include an aggregation module 212. Aggregationmodule 212 may be configured to aggregate message quality scores byindividual traders, firms and/or other trading entities. Aggregation mayalso be performed for time periods, such as by trading session or month.Trading engine 208 may also be configured to distribute message qualityscores. In some embodiments a message quality score 214 is included aspart of return message 206. Message quality score 214 may be for anindividual message or may be an aggregated score for a trading entity ormay be used in a downstream system to gate available capacity for auser. Distributing message quality scores facilitates accuratelytracking message scores by traders.

In some embodiments a gateway 218 may be included between trader 202 andtrading engine 208. Gateway 218 may perform various functions, such asvolume control checks, calculating message quality scores andtransmitting message quality scores.

In one embodiment message quality scores are determined by the followingequation:

Message quality=A*ΔPrice level+B*Size+C*ΔTime   (Equation 1)

Wherein

A, B and C=constants per product

ΔPrice level=change in price level

Size=order size

ΔTime=time in the market

The change in price level factor may correspond to a change in dollaramounts. For example, modifying an order from a price level of $15 percontract to a price level of $17 per contract would have a change inprice level of $2 per contract. Change in price levels may also factorin order quantity. For example, if the order had a volume of 50contracts, the change in price level may be $2 per contract multipliedby the volume of 50 contracts or $100. Alternatively, the change inprice level factor may be determined in relation to a best bid or bestoffer. As the best bid and best offer move the change in price levelrepresents the change in dollar amount or ticks from the best bid orbest offer. For example, if an order is at one tick level below a bestbid and the market moves, modifying the order to remain one tick levelbelow the new best bid would be considered no change in price level.

The time in the market factor may be used to reward traders for leavingorders in a market for longer periods of time. Orders that remain in themarket for longer time periods may add to market liquidity and maydecrease the capacity load needed to process the order and subsequentmarket data.

In some embodiments messages that include order sizes that exceed athreshold do not add to message quality scores. Of course, a tieredapproach or an adjustment favorable to a trader to the message qualityscore may also be used in other embodiments. Various message qualityscoring algorithms may also factor in distances from a best bid or bestoffer. Orders that are further away from a best bid or best offer mayonly marginally add to liquidity.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for processing financial market messages inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. First, in step 302 atrading engine receives a financial market message. The message may be abuy order message, cancel order message, modify order message or anyother type of message typically sent from a trader to a trading engine.Next, in step 304, the trading engine determines a message qualityscore. The determination may use one or more of the algorithms discussedabove. In alternative embodiments the determination is performed by acomponent other than the trading engine. After the determination, thetrading engine transmits an outgoing message that includes the messagequality score in step 306. Message quality scores may alternatively betransmitted to multiple devices or used by the trading engine or anexchange computer device.

The method shown in FIG. 3 may be used in embodiments that aggregatemessages by trading entities. In step 308, a plurality of messagequality scores are aggregated into an aggregate message quality scorefor a trading entity. An exchange or other trading entity may charge afee or provide a discount that is a function of a message quality score.An exchange may also base volume controls as a function of the messagequality score adding or removing message capacity. In step 310 acomputer device determines a fee corresponding to the aggregate messagequality score. Information regarding the fee may be distributed as partof a message, such as message 206.

In some embodiments that utilize volume controls, an exchange or othertrading entity may facilitate the trading of excess capacity. Tradingentities may buy and sell volume subject to volume controls or messagequality scores. Such embodiments may allow trading entities to profitfrom the efficient use of messaging, which encourages the efficient useof messaging.

The present invention has been described in terms of preferred andexemplary embodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modificationsand variations within the scope and spirit of the invention will occurto persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of thisdisclosure. For example, aspects of the invention may be used to processand communicate data other than market data.

We claim:
 1. A method of processing financial market messagescomprising: (a) receiving at a trading engine a financial marketmessage; (b) determining at the trading engine a message quality score;and (c) transmitting from a trading engine an outgoing message thatincludes the message quality score.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe financial market message comprises an order for a derivativeproduct.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises assigning amessage quality value corresponding to a message type.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein message types comprise new order messages, cancelmessages and modify messages.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein amessage value corresponding to a modify message type is less than theaverage of the message value corresponding to the new order message typeand the message value corresponding to the cancel message type.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the message quality score is a function of achange in price level from a best bid or a best offer.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the message quality score increases as the price levelmoves away from a best bid or best offer.
 8. The method of claim 6,wherein the message quality score is a function of an order size.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the message quality score increases as theorder size decreases.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the messagequality score is a function of a time that an order has been in themarket.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the message quality scoredecreases as an order has been in the market longer.
 12. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the message quality score is a weighted sum of: achange in price level from a best bid or a best offer order size; and atime that an order has been in the market.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein weights used in the weighted sum are a function of a financialmarket corresponding to the message received in (a).
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the weights used in the weighted sum are a function ofmarket activity in the financial market corresponding to the messagereceived in (a).
 15. The method of claim 1, further including: (d)aggregating a plurality of message quality scores into an aggregatemessage quality score for a trading entity.
 16. The method of claim 15,further including: (e) determining at a computer device a feecorresponding to the aggregate message quality score.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, further including: (d) determining a message volume controllimit as a function of the message quality score determined in (b). 18.A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructionsfor performing the steps comprising: (a) receiving a financial marketmessage; (b) determining a message quality score; and (c) transmittingan outgoing message that includes the message quality score.
 19. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein (b) comprises assigning amessage value corresponding to a message type.
 20. The computer-readablemedium of claim 18, further including: (d) determining a message volumecontrol limit as a function of the message quality score determined in(b).
 21. A method of processing financial market messages comprising:(a) receiving at a computer device a financial market message; (b)determining at the computer device a message quality score; and (c)transmitting from a computer device an outgoing message that includesthe message quality score.